THE PRESIDENT: First, it's been my real privilege and honor to
welcome the Secretary of State back to Crawford. He and Dick Armitage
came, and we spent yesterday evening and this morning talking about our
country's desire to promote peace and freedom, our obligations as a
prosperous and strong nation to help the less fortunate. And we had a
good strategy session, and now we're about to go out and brand some
cows -- well, not exactly. (Laughter.)

Q Sir, what are your thoughts --

THE PRESIDENT: let me answer a couple of questions and we'll -- a
little more order here to this particular press coverage, because this
is Crawford.

Q I'm sorry.

Q Thanks, Mr. President. You sent an advance force, or you're
authorizing an advance force in Liberia. Does this signal the start of
a larger force in Liberia?

THE PRESIDENT: This is all part of determining what is necessary
to help ECOWAS -- now called ECOMIL -- to go in and provide the
conditions necessary for humanitarian relief to arrive, whether it be
by sea or by air. And it's part of what we said we would do.

Q Do you still want Taylor out? Is that still a condition, a
hard condition?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, we would like Taylor out. The Secretary may
want to comment on this, he's working hard with the -- you know, the
U.N. and others to insist that Mr. Taylor leave.

SECRETARY POWELL: We still expect President Taylor to leave. I'm
pleased at what ECOWAS has been able to do. The Nigerians showed up in
good order, more forces are arriving and they're starting to establish
a sense of security and I think put hope back in the hearts of the
Liberian people and we want to support them and assist them, as the
President said.

THE PRESIDENT: Patsy.

Q Sir --

Q I'm sorry, what do you want from the American troops?

THE PRESIDENT: -- you're dominating here. (Laughter.)

Q Sir, do you want the -- sorry.

THE PRESIDENT: -- your editors appreciate it.

Q Do you want the Israelis to stop construction of the fence,
or just re-route it? And will you use loan guarantees to persuade
them?

THE PRESIDENT: We're talking to Israel about all aspects of the
fence. I made it clear I thought the fence was a problem, and so we're
talking with them and we'll continue to work on this issue, as well as
other issues. I do believe we're making progress.

The key for a peace to happen is for both parties to assume their
necessary obligations and responsibilities, to create the conditions so
that people have confidence, that people know that their lives will be
safe and that prosperity can break out. And we're making progress
there.

Stretch, and then we'll go to you, John, and then Elizabeth.
You've got to speak above the train.

Q I'm competing here with the train. Do you think you've done
enough at this point to stimulate the economy? Is it a matter of just
kind of letting things that you've put into place take effect, take
hold, or is there more that needs to be done?

THE PRESIDENT: Look, there's no question that the tax relief --
(train whistle) -- first we've got to have better rail transportation.
(Laughter.)

The tax cuts will help a lot. And the second round of tax relief
is now ending up in the pockets of our fellow citizens. The child tax
credit checks are now being mailed. And that's going to help. But
there needs to be more. And there needs to be an energy plan, there
needs to be good litigation reform. I believe we can get a good class
action lawsuit out of the Senate if we continue to work the issue. I
also know that we need to make sure we continue this notion of
reminding the investors and consumers alike that we're going to have
fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C. So, yes, there's more we can do,
and will do.

John.

Q Sir, you've seen the report that Secretary Powell and
Secretary Armitage are going to leave at the end of this
administration. Do you expect them to stay on if there is a second
Bush administration? Would you like them to?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first things first, we hope there is a second
Bush administration. And I will work hard to convince the American
people that their confidence in me is justified. And we'll deal with
it at the right time.

Listen, this guy has done a fabulous job. Washington, particularly
in August, is a dangerous period -- a dangerous time, because there's a
lot of speculation. And all I can tell you is, the man flies to
Crawford and we spend a good 24 hours talking about how we're going to
work together to make the world a better place.

Q But, Mr. President, you said, we'll deal with it --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Elizabeth.

Q -- we'll deal with it at the right time. That isn't "yes."

THE PRESIDENT: Deal with what at the right time?

Q With whether Secretary Powell will serve in a second term.
Is that, "yes" or "no"? I mean, are you going to offer him a spot in
the second term?

SECRETARY POWELL: I don't have a term. I serve the President.
(Laughter.)

Q No, but the President --

THE PRESIDENT: Elizabeth, look, first things first, and that is,
we've got a year-and-a-while during my first term to make the world a
more peaceful place and we'll deal with it. Washington loves
speculation. Clearly, you love speculation. You love it. You love to
speculate about --

Q It wasn't my story. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Let me finish, please; let me finish. You love to
speculate about whether so-and-so is going to be a part of the
administration or not. And I understand the game. But I have got to
do my job, and I'm going to do it. And I'm going to do it with the
Secretary of State. And the fact that he is here in Crawford, Texas,
talking about issues of importance, should say loud and clear to the
American people that he's completely engaged in doing what he needs to
do, and that is, serve as a great Secretary of State.

Q Do you want to serve more than four years, Mr. Secretary?

SECRETARY POWELL: I serve at the pleasure of the President, and
this is all August speculation with no basis in fact. There was no
basis for this story to begin with, and we're doing our jobs together.